Salvia officinalis

This variety of Mediterranean garden sage has many culinary uses and has been selected for a higher essential oil content enhancing its flavoring and medicinal uses. Garden sage has traditionally been used as a brain enhancing tonic and to aid in digestion. It’s a wonderful addition to tea blends. Salvia species are also excellent nectar plants for honeybees and other pollinators.

Extrakta sage is very drought tolerant once established and is evergreen to at least zone 5. They bloom in long spikes of lilac and purple flowers in midsummer. You can get them to repeat blooms with deadheading and occasionally with adequate moisture and nutrition in the fall.

Garden sage performs best with plenty of light, drier or at least well-draining soils, and good air flow.

These beautiful plants take well to a light shearing to rejuvenate leggy growth, and they add a good structural component to your herb garden.

Seeds germinate quickly with warming soils (mid to high 60 degrees F), consistent moisture and a thin covering of soil or starting mix. They can be direct sown or transplanted. Keep seedlings in cool conditions as they can become heat stressed when young.

USDA hardiness zones: 4-10

Packet: 50 seeds